I think the Spanish government found El Dorado.

When I read the story about the found treasure yesterday, I assumed that something like this would happen.

There's something fishy about the wreck?

No. Spain has a record of trying to seize any kind of treasure ship they think they can.
If these people are stupid enough to let Spain get a hold of them or the treasure, they will start the delaying tactics. These can extend forever. Sooner or later most negotiate a settlement before they die of old age. They are not above, as I seem to remember, going into international waters to make a usually lame claim. They then declare they are the rightful owners. After forever they relent and give a pittance. Track record of same.

That does it!

I am not buying any more burritos.

Fucking Spanish.

On a more serious note, some questions need to be answered.

Were the coins found of Spanish origin?

Has the wreck been identified and is it a ship of Spain's?

Then, by all means, they should put forth a claim.

"Finders keepers, losers weepers" makes for crappy international law.

burritos are not Spanish; only paella and empanadas and churros etc.

The Aztecs should also file a claim

The Aztecs should also file a claim

Posted by vernon at 2007-05-21 02:11 AM

Actually you're correct since virtually all of the silver used in Spanish coinage came from Mexico.

OCU

On a more serious note, some questions need to be answered.

Were the coins found of Spanish origin?

Has the wreck been identified and is it a ship of Spain's?

Then, by all means, they should put forth a claim.

"Finders keepers, losers weepers" makes for crappy international law.

Posted by silver_ironist at 2007-05-21 12:08 AM

Wrong again!!!

Salvage found in international waters is anybodies to take. After several hundred years there is no claim to be had.

If the ship were of another nations lying in Spanish waters, do you think they would offer up any share?

The Spanish have tried this many times. It doesn't work.

If the site is revealed, it will be plundered almost instantly. This is common in even purely archaeological sites. When treasure is involved it even gets deadly.

The group involved is making this both a treasure recovery as well as an archaeologically recorded underwater dig.

If the Spaniards feel they have a right to the shipwreck, the should send their Armada to enforce the claim. The discoverers should've expected the Spanish Inquisition.

If the Spaniards feel they have a right to the shipwreck, the should send their Armada to enforce the claim. The discoverers should've expected the Spanish Inquisition.

Posted by LeeAtwater at 2007-05-21 11:35 AM

Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.

The recovery is being attempted under a deal with the British government, the first such public-private arrangement for an archaeological excavation of a sovereign warship.

Historians believe the 157-foot warship was carrying nine tons of gold coins to buy the loyalty of the Duke of Savoy, a potential ally in southeastern France. Odyssey believes those coins could also fetch more than $500 million.

But under the terms of an agreement, Odyssey will have to share any finds with the British government. The company will get 80% of the first $45 million and about 50% of the proceeds thereafter.

Fuckin' Brits, we let them pretend to be important and play a minor role in our new Oily Empire and now they want gold too. I say, the UK has WMD, a communist government and oil. Let's go liberate them. They did burn the WH after all...

burritos are not Spanish; only paella and empanadas and churros etc.

I knew someone would bite that lure.

It was a poor joke on our current immigration situation.

What I should have said is I will never have Tapas and Amontillado again, but I couldn't even dream of renouncing those.

If the Spaniards feel they have a right to the shipwreck, the should send their Armada to enforce the claim.

Their navy consists of a 15' trihull with a 55 hp Chrysler engine...oh, and a couple of skiffs.

AA-I think they may have a few rowboats too-but they tend to sink fairly often...

Their navy consists of a 15' trihull with a 55 hp Chrysler engine...oh, and a couple of skiffs.

Posted by AllAmerican at 2007-05-21 02:11 PM

I wouldn't write-off Spain quite so fast.

The Spanish Navy is the second largest naval fleet among European NATO counties (British being #1) consisting of the following:

1 Aircraft Carrier
11 Frigates
4 Amphibious Assault Vessels
4 Submarines
6 Minesweepers
and various other support vessels

However the Spanish government is current undertaking a modernization effort that includes orders already underway for a new Aircraft Carrier, at least one new Frigate, and 4 additional Submarines.

In addition, their is the equivalent of a Spanish Coast Guard which consists of approximately 27 vessels in the cutter and coastal patrol boat classes.

Granted, not much of a match for the U.S. Navy, but I suspect that it's something that the average Spanish sailor would be quite proud of.

OCU

"Wrong again!!!

Salvage found in international waters is anybodies to take. After several hundred years there is no claim to be had.

Posted by keith204 at 2007-05-21 08:46 AM"

Um, do you have proof that the wreck was not located in Spanish territorial waters? If it were in such waters, wouldn't Spain have a claim? Is it possible that that is what is going on here? I mean, it IS possible that a company might lie if $500M were at stake, right?

Posted by northguy3 at 2007-05-21 12:20 PM


"The recovery is being attempted under a deal with the British government, the first such public-private arrangement for an archaeological excavation of a sovereign warship."
------------------------------ -----------

The ship mentioned above was said (today LA channel 2 news 12 noon) to not be the British warship in question.

It was another vessel found in international waters.

The vessel was handled by this team as both an archaeological and "recovery expedition.

To avoid the common swoop and grab tactics sometimes employed by some nations. It was handled very hush hush. The directors of this effort were two naval archaeologists.

After recovery operations the recovered materials, in this case treasure, was quickly moved to the United States. This to avoid unfounded claims by anyone.

Spanish Sailors were good enough to find a stinking piece of land centuries ago - oh Christopher Columbus why didn't you sail south and east.

sovereign warship

===

Means they are recognising that it is owned by someone.